MHS girls roll over Andale 50-32

For the second time in roughly three days, the McPherson High girls faced Andale at the McPherson High School Roundhouse.

By Chris SwickSports Editor

For the second time in roughly three days, the McPherson High girls faced Andale at the McPherson High School Roundhouse.The result Tuesday night was much the same as Saturday's third place game of the Mid America Classic, with McPherson winning 50-32.McPherson opened up with a 7-0 run n the first quarter, but Andale's Brittany Meyer had an answer, going on what amounted to a solo 8-0 run that gave the Indians the brief lead. She would end the half with 11.MHS' Katelyn Loecker hit a pair of free throws with a minute left in the opening period to give McPherson back the lead, which they didn't relinquish the rest of the game.A 25-15 McPherson halftime lead extended to 37-23 after the third quarter as the toll of traveling for the tournament and having four games in a six-day stretch obviously affected the Indians."Four trips up here, that's got to be tough for any team," McPherson coach Chris Strathman said following the win. "Andale's very good, and I expect them to go on a big run here to end the season."While Andale looked physically weary, Strathman said he could tell his team was mentally tired."We had the big advantage of being home and not having to travel," he said. "Sixteen turnovers is just way too many, we shot poorly from the free throw line. There's the mental fatigue right there."Loecker led the Pups with 16 points, followed by Hailey Ruder's 15 and Abby Pedersen's 10. Janae Barnes had a second big game on the boards against Andale, notching 12 rebounds in the win.Meyer finished with 13 points as the Bullpup defense clamped down on her in the second half, allowing only a pair of free throws in the fourth quarter. Rachel Eck finished with 10 points.In the junior varsity game, McPherson was a 45-43 winner over the Indians. Hannah Willems led the Bullpups with eight points in the victory.The freshmen girls fell 56-36 to Andale. Ally Ulsaker had 14 points to lead McPherson, while Magan Alexander added 11 and Paige Schmidt had 10.Next up for McPherson is Dodge City, another team fresh off the Mid America Classic. Tip off from the Roundhouse is Friday at 6 p.m.Andale (32) — Eck, R. 5-9 0-0 10; Eck, J. 1-3 0-2 2; Meyer 3-14 4-4 13; Rowland, E. 1-7 0-0 2; Maxwell 0-0 1-2 1; Rowland, L. 1-5 0-0 2; VenJohn 1-1 0-0 2.McPherson (50) — Ruder 4-6 5-6 15; Pyle 1-2 0-2 2; Pedersen 3-11 3-3 10; Barnes 2-3 3-6 7; Loecker 6-11 4-5 16.MHS JV (45) — Bate 5; Willems 8; Alexander 6; Schmidt 5; Wedel 5; Malm 4; Hoffman 4; Ulsaker 3; Cooks 5.MHS fresh. (36) — Alexander 11; Schmidt 10; Ulsaker 14; Wedel 1.